entlemen Governors, in good faith I would like first of all to offer my most affectionate greetings and express my respect and admiration for you as representatives of the Pueblo Indians. I thank you most sincerely for your consideration and your generous hospitality in inviting me to share this luncheon with you. Today is the first time I have had the opportunity of being with you, and as heir to the Spanish Crown, I find it a deeply moving moment. I must admit to you I?m specially honoured by the presence of such a large number of representatives from the Pueblo Indian Nations.

Since 1998, there have been momentous developments between your nations and Spain. The Act of Reconciliation in April of that same year, the attendance of our representatives at the Blessing of the 19 Staffs of Command in Santo Domingo Pueblo in July, the visit by Governor Salazar and the dancers of San Juan Pueblo to Madrid in November, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cultural and educational matters in October 1999 - all these events bear witness to the strength and the vigour of our "reencuentro". Also, I particularly want you to know that I felt truly privileged watching the Sacred Buffalo Dance at the Museo de América in Madrid. I specially thank you for having chosen Spain as the place to celebrate a religious ceremony of such long tradition outside your own territories for the first time ever.

Gentlemen Governors: The Crown of Spain once acknowledged you as the primordial inhabitants and the sovereigns of these lands. And my country's Government has now ratified its desire to cooperate with you in seeking a better future understanding. At this time of?reencuentro?, made possible thanks to the efforts of everyone, I would like once more to assure you of my honest friendship and my best wishes for the well-being of the nations that you represent.